Spinning tops



June 24, 1958 J. 5. LOPEZ SPINNING TOPS Filed July 15, 1955 INVENTOR.JOJi

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 2,839,869 SPINNING TOPS Jose SanchezLopez, Laredo, Tex. Application July 15 1955, Serial No. 522,250 Claims.CI. 46-65) This invention relates to spinning tops and more particularlyto multiple spinning tops.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved top constructionwhereby a plurality of tops may be spun simultaneously. 7 Another objectof the invention is to provide a spinning top adapted forthe amusementof youths and adults, which is simple in construction, economical tomanufacture, and most eificient in operation.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed together with other features of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the top;

Figure 2 is a sectional view through, the assembled tops, showing theirrelation, one to the other;

Figure 3 is a view of the whole assembly of tops, with the topsseparated and in perspective;

Figure 4 is a partial vertical sectional view of two tops showing indetail the inner and outer rabbets;

Figure 5 shows the top in completely assembled form and the manner ofmaking it spin by hand; and

Figure 6 shows the manner of pitching the top'with a cord and spinningthe separated tops.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a spinner or principal topand 11, 12, 13, 14, and 16 are nonspinner tops. This distinction isnecessary since top 10 is spun by a cord 17 while tops 11, 12, 13, 14,15 and 16 have no means for attaching to or winding-therearound a cord.All tops, however, do spin. Each top is substantially conical in form ormore specifically, conic curvilinear. This description applies also totop 16 except for the portion 18 which serves as a lid, being shaped asshown. Each top, excepting top 16 is hollow so that one can be nested inthe other; top 11 being nested in top 10; top 12 being nested in top 11;top 13 being nested in top 12; top 14 being nested in top 13; top 15being nested in top 14; and top 16 which is not hollow, being nested intop 15.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, it will be seen that the lid portion 18 isintegral with the body of the top 16 and is provided with a boss 19, thelid being shaped as shown and being of a diameter conforming with theoutside diameter at the rim, of top 10.

Each top is provided with a pivot point or peg, upon which it spins; onesuch pivot point being shown at 20 on top 10. r

A most important feature of this invention is the fact that the nestingtops are so constructed that, whennested, the uppermost edge surfaceportions all lie inthe same horizontal plane and are flush with eachother, as best seen at 25, in Figure 2, thereby providing, substantial,broad surface upon which the lid top 16 may rest when it is nestedwithin top 15. When nested, the tops are loosely fitted, but in aprecise and perfect fitting manner, leaving between each nested top aslight space for play, which prevents the adhesion of the tops amongthem- Patented June 24, 1 958 with rabbet 26 and rabbet 27 mates withthe outer rabbet on top 12 (which rabbet is not identified by areference character). As shown in Figure 2, each of tops 11, 12,

- 13, 14 and 15 are provided with outer and inner rabbets,

and top 16 is provided with an'outer rabbet, only. 'It is to be notedparticularly that the provision of the inner and outer rabbets on themarginal edge portions of the tops is believed to be the cause of theseven or more tops to-adapt themselves better to the positions shown inFigure 2 and to facilitate their immediate and precise separation fromthe principal top 10 when spinning.

The rabbets, when engaged as shown in Figure 2, cause the tops to adaptthemselves betterto their positions, and likewise cause all of the topsto rotate simultaneously, due to the driving connections set up by therabbets. The inner rabbet serves somewhat like the female eye of ahook-and-eye arrangement, and the outer rabbet serves somewhat as themale hook. The outer top 10 drives top 11 through the rabbets, and top11 drives top 12 through the rabbets, and so on for all of the nestedtops. It is to be noted also, that all of the rabbets referred to lie inthe same horizontal plane. I

In operation, the tops are in their nested positions as shown in Figures1 and 2. The cord 17 is wrapped about top 10 in the customary fashionand the top assembly is pitched by the player shown in Figure 6, or itmay be spun by hand without a cord, as shown in Figure 5. This causesthe tops to start spinning and they are thrown out of the stack, asshown in Figure 6, each to spin on its individual pivot point or peg. Byspinning the top assembly by hand or by cord, motion is imparted to eachindividual top; and by centrifugal motion, the tops are thrown one fromthe other and from the principal top 10, falling'upon the floor orspinning surface and spinning upon their pivot points or pegs.

The provision of the inner and outer rabbets, in the manner described,not only permits the tops to nest with their uppermost edge surfaceportions in a horizontal plane, but the rabbets materially and greatlyassist in the tops being separated precisely at the instant whenspinning is to occur.

The number of tops which can be nested and spun is a matter of skill anda very interesting game may be developed among several spinners. Bycoloring and decorating the tops a very pleasing and attractive effectis obtained.

What I claim is:

1. A spinning top comprising in combination, a plurality ofsubstantially conical interfitting tops, varying in depth and diameter,each adapted to spin independently of the others, the top having thesmallest depth and smallest diameter including an integral lid adaptedto engage all peripheral edges of all of said interfitting tops exceptsaid lip top, the uppermost edge surface portions of each of said topsexcepting that of said lip top lyingin the same horizontal plane andbeing flush with each other thereby providing a substantial, broadsurface upon which the lid top may rest when nested, one of said topsbeing manually rotatable and serving as a principal top' to support andenclose the other interfittingtops and to impart rapid rotary movementthereto simultaneously to cause the same to spin. j

2. A spinning top comprising in combination, a plurality ofsubstantially conical interfitting tops, varying in depth and diameter,each adapted to spin independently t v 3 of the others, the top havingthe smallest depth and smallest diameter including anintegral lidadapted to engage and rest upon all uppermost edge surface portions ofall of said interfitting tops except said lid top, the

uppermost edge surface portions of'each'of said tops 4. The spinning topof claim 3 in which all of said rabbets lie in a common horizontalplane, said planes being parallel.

5. The spinning top of claim 1 in which said principal top is providedonly with an inner rabbet, said lip top is provided only with an outerrabbet, and the remaining interfitting tops are provided with both'innerand outer rabbets.

References Cited in the file ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS SpencerJuly 22, 1873 OBrien May 14, 1912 Gallaher Dec. 2, 1952 UNITED STATESPATENT oEETcE CERTIFICATE OF CURRECTION Patent No. 2,839,869 June 22;;1958 Jose Sanchez Lopez It is hereby certified that error appears inthe-printed specification of the above numbered patent requiringcorrection and that the said Letters Patent should read as correctedbelow.

Column 1, line 67, after "providing" strike out the comma and insertinstead a column 2, lines 61 and 62, and column 4,. line 5,. 01" "liptop", each occurrence, read lid top Signed and sealed this 9th day ofSeptember 19580 KARI. H. AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting OfliccrCommissioner of Patents

